Destination Laos

ຫໍຫລັກເມືອງ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful

French Colonial Architecture, Vientiane Capital One of the most pleasant surprises awaiting the visitor to Vientiane is the French cultural influence surviving in the city, the legacy of the colonial period which lasted from the late 19th century until the 1950s. It is a pleasure to enjoy a breakfast of croissants and coffee. Lunch may well comprise freshly baked baguettes and pate accompanied by a carafe of wine. In the evening, excellent French cuisine is available at up-market restaurants, survivors of the years of socialist austerity. #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful

ວັດອົງຕື້, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ Wat Ong Teu Temple, Vientiane Capital Wat Ong Teu was built in the early 16th century by King Setthathirath. It was destroyed during the war with the Siamese and was rebuilt in the 19th and 20th centuries. After the French reconstructed, the temple was used as a school for Theravada Buddhism. It is now the national center of Buddhist studies in Laos. With a visit to the Wat, you’re likely to encounter monks reading books around the temple. If the monks seem open to talking to you, take the opportunity to chat with them; they’ll appreciate practicing their English and in turn you may learn about their life as monks. There are many statues of Buddha in this temple with a central and massive bronze Buddha, the largest one cast in Vientiane that survived the war. The Buddha called Phra Ongteu gives the temple its name. #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful

ວັດສີເມືອງ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ Wat Simuang Temple, Vientiane Capital Simuang Temple is one of Vientiane’s most popular sites of worship, and offers a fascinating insight into how old animist beliefs have blended seamlessly with Theravada Buddhism. The original city pillar of Vientiane is found in Wat Simuang located in Ban Simuang village along Setthathirath Road. It was built in 1956 and is believed to be guarded by the spirit of a local girl called “ Si ” Local legend has it that Nang Si, who was pregnant at the time, leapt to her death as a sacrifice, just as the pillar was being lowered into the hole. A very colorful Phasat Pheung (wax pavilion procession) attracts large crowds to Simuang Temple, taking place just two days prior to the That Luang Festival in November. On a daily basis, Wat Si Muang attracts crowds of local Buddhists who want to benefit from its ‘good luck’ powers. It is commonly thought that if you pray for something here and simultaneously make a promise, your wish will be granted, providing you return and fulfill your promise. #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

ສາລາພັນຫ້ອງ ວັດທາດຫລວງ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful

ທາດດຳ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ THAT DAM (BLACK STUPA) That Dam or Black Stupa in Vientiane Capital is one of the few ancient stupas that remains after the Siamese occupation in the 17th century. It is located in the center of the town and has become one of the most popular city landmarks. It is quite an interesting sight in the middle of what is quickly becoming a modern city. Since it has not undergone any renovation, vegetation has started to grow out of it which adds to its charm. According to legend, the Black Stupa was built in the 16th century and it is believed to be the home of the seven-headed dragon that struggled to protect Vientiane, her people, and the entire kingdom from Siamese invaders in 1827. #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful

ປະຕູໄຊ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ Patuxay Monument (Victory Arch), Vientiane Capital The memorial monument, Patuxay, was built in 1957 and is perhaps the most prominent landmark in the city. It is situated on Lane Xang Avenue. While the arc de Triumphe in Paris inspired the architecture, the design incorporates typical Lao motifs including “Kinnaly”, a mythical bird woman. Energetic visitors can climb to the top of the monument, which reveals an excellent panoramic view of the city. #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful

ສວນວັດທະນະທຳຊຽງຄວນ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ Xieng Khouan Buudha Park, Vientiane Capital Buddha Park is a famous sculpture park with more than 200 religious statues including a huge 40-metre high reclining Buddha image. The best spot for photography here is on top of the giant pumpkin structure standing about three stories high. The entrance is crafted to look like a demon’s mouth (about three metres high) with a stone ladder inside leading to a bird’s eye view of the entire Xieng Kuan Park. It was built in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a monk who studied both Buddhism and Hinduism. This explains why his park is full not only of Buddha images but also of Hindu gods as well as demons and animals from both beliefs. The most outstanding ones include Indra, the king of Hindu gods riding the three-headed elephant (aka Erawan and Airavata), a four-armed deity sitting on a horse and an artistic deity with 12 faces and many hands, each holding interesting objects. They are all equally impressive not only because of their enormous size but because they are full of interesting details and interesting motifs. There is a local eatery and café offering food and drinks to tourists at one end of the park right next to the Mekong River that makes a great spot to chill after all the walking and climbing. Among the popular snacks are papaya salad, fried bananas and cold Lao beer. It also has a souvenir shop and restrooms. There is a small fee for entering the park as well as for photography. #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful

ວັດສີສະເກດ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ Sisaket Temple, Vientiane Capital Sisaket is the only ancient templeremaining intact after the destruction of the Siamese in 1828. It’s located in the center of the old city,where it was built in 1818 by King Anouvong. The old monastery stands intact in its original form and certainly is one of the most interesting in the country. Inside the main hall, the courtyard walls house hundreds of little inches and shelves containing a total of 6,840 Buddha images. #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful

ຫໍພະແກ້ວ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ Hor Pha Keo Museum, Vientiane Capital Originally, this ancient temple was built in 1565 by King Xayasetthathilath to house the Emerald Buddha 1565-1779 (lost to the Siamese in 1828) as his personal place of worship. It was reconstructed in 1936. For this reason and unlike other temples in Laos, monks have not taken up residence here. During the 1970’s, the temple was converted from a place of worship into museum and now houses the finest national collection of Buddhist sculptures and artifacts. From the terrace of HorPhra Keo, one can enjoy a view overlooking the president’s Palace (former Royal Palace) and garden. #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ

ພະທາດຫລວງ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ That Luang Stupa (Great Sacred Stupa), Vientiane Capital The site of That Luang has been builtin use since the year 236 of the Buddhist Calendar (307BC). When the first governor of Vientiane, Phaya Chanthabouri Pasitthisack or Bourichan built a structure that looked like a kiln of about 9 meters high and 10 meters wide. The original stupa was built on the site in 1566 by King Saysetthathirath, and was restored in 1953. The golden stupa is 45 meters tall and is believed to contain a relic of the Lord Buddha. The gold centerpiece of this stupa echoes the curve of an elongated Lotus bud. Today it is the most important national cultural monument. #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful

ຕາດເລິກ, ແຂວງບໍລິຄຳໄຊ Tad Lerk (Lerk Waterfall) From Wat Phabath 16 kilometers and 20 kilometers in from the South 13 Road in Thaphabath District. Located in Phou Khao Khouay NPA, This beautiful waterfall is the most accessible attraction in the park and ideal for relaxing, swimming, camping and trekking, Tad Luek had a Visitor Center and a "Nature Trail". #unseenlaos #ລາວທ່ຽວລາວ #ປະເທດລາວສວຍງາມແທ້ໆ #laossimplybeautiful